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The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Honour Guards have joined rehearsals for the upcoming Pakistan Day parade, China Daily reported on Monday.

The guards will participate in the parade for the first time after China's military leadership received an invitation from Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

China has sent a 90-strong contingent, of which 72 members will participate in the parade, the Chinese publication added.

The Honour Guards took part in a rehearsal on Sunday and were welcomed warmly by their Pakistani hosts, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

The PLA Honor Guards, formed in 1952, take part in every significant national event and welcome ceremony for foreign leaders in China. They have also performed at parades in Mexico, Italy and Venezuela.

Inter-Services Public Relations' (ISPR) director general, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, had earlier this month announced that Chinese soldiers would take part in the March 23 parade to mark Pakistan Day celebrations.

A Turkish military band is also slated to take part in the parade, according to ISPR.

The military parade was resumed in 2015 after a gap of seven years and was seen as a manifestation of the military's show of strength in the wake of a shocking attack in 2014 on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, which left 150 dead, including 132 schoolchildren.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passage of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, under which the Muslims of the British Indian Empire demanded a separate nation, as well as the declaration of Pakistan as an Islamic republic on the same day in 1956.

We warmly welcome China's military contingent for the parade. Incredible precision, smartness and perfection. These are the extraordinary attributes which have made China a world's economic superpower. The people of Pakistan salute China - Pakistan friendship for regional stability and world peace.

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DW

Mar 20, 2017 08:44pm

Long Live Pakistan and China Alliance. Boot the enemy together

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Mustafa R.

Mar 20, 2017 08:59pm

I wish the contingent was much larger. Chinese parades are a sight to behold.

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Abid Hafeez

Mar 20, 2017 09:05pm

China has always been our friend. India did her best to isolate Pakistan from the rest of the world, but all went invain, as China, Russia, Turkey and many other countries participated in joint excercises, and also Pakistan proved its iron by winning gold medal in a compitition held in UK named "Cambrian Peteol".

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MAS

Mar 20, 2017 09:12pm

Pakistan+China = Strong Bond

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Kabir

Mar 20, 2017 09:24pm

Too much reliance on only one nation. It's a big risk.

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bharat_voice

Mar 20, 2017 09:24pm

Time will say...

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Taimoor khan

Mar 20, 2017 09:25pm

America must be feeling left out.

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jaredlee67

Mar 21, 2017 12:21am

This is a parade. Let's not add too much hype to this. Nations usually engage in such collaborative efforts to promote solidarity and peace. No need to read too much between the lines.

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DK

Mar 21, 2017 12:35am

@bharat_voice first try to live in present

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Zak

Mar 21, 2017 01:18am

@Kabir come to admire, keep your advice for your side.

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Ali

Mar 21, 2017 01:30am

True friends always keep in touch .

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Saiira durrani(mirza)

Mar 21, 2017 03:34am

Wah ji China! True friends

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baanke khan

Mar 21, 2017 06:25am

Good news.

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Sameer

Mar 21, 2017 08:33am

Pakistan needs to train hard...have you seen the perfection these chinese soldiers have at marching?

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Desi Dimag

Mar 21, 2017 08:47am

Who will be the chief guest in the parade?

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Mittha khan

Mar 21, 2017 09:08am

@Desi Dimag Proud Pakistani Nation is the chief guest and guest of honor..

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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Mar 21, 2017 09:09am

Love you China, What a sharp looking contingent from the Chinese Armed Forces.

Iron Brothers 4 Life!

Qilai!

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Desi Dimag

Mar 21, 2017 09:22am

@Mittha khan So sweet.

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Azhar

Mar 23, 2017 07:21am

I saw US EMBASSADOR message. it is a positive step in the right direction. Pakistan leadership must use this good will to cement relationship with US